P.T. Anderson’s Kinda-Probably-Maybe Scientology Film: ‘The Master’

Yesterday Yahoo! released an exclusive trailer for The Master, Paul Thomas Anderson’s film about a troubled young drifter who develops an intense relationship with the leader of a new religion which according to most is a barely concealed Scientology.

As one of America’s most provocative contemporary filmmakers, Anderson certainly has the chops to examine the perplexing allure of Scientology, but given the cult’s religion’s ubiquity among Hollywood’s elite, is he doomed to failure regardless? Were it ten years ago, maybe even just five, this might have been a certainty, but the Church’s recent PR woes may have its leadership looking to avoid the limelight.

While The Master certainly looks intriguing, one does wonder why no one has chosen to film something actually based on Hubbard’s life. His relationship with Jack Parsons would make a great story, not to even mention his final, paranoid years adrift with the Sea Org. Perhaps it is the aforementioned Hollywood presence – or the Church’s reputation for extreme litigiousness, more likely.